Chapter 24

“What do you even take me for?”

With that, Huikyung lightly tapped Jaekani’s chin with his index finger. The boy, his brow furrowed in irritation, had his attention drawn to Huikyung’s broad back. His thin shirt did little to conceal the contours of his muscles, their shadows accentuated by the sunlight. Watching him, Jaekani was reminded of how starkly different Huikyung was from himself—a complete adult, distant and unreachable.

This journey, after all, was entirely at Huikyung’s mercy. It was his meager sympathy and sense of responsibility that allowed Jaekani to follow. The image of himself being abandoned in the barren wilderness played vividly in Jaekani’s mind, should Huikyung ever decide to withdraw his goodwill.

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“Stay here, Jaekani. Mommy’s going away,” Huikyung teased, his voice carrying over the growing distance between them.

Though spoken in jest, Jaekani didn’t understand the joke. His childhood had been too different. Instead, he relied on Huikyung’s playful, leaf-like smile as a guide. Smiling faintly in response, Jaekani quickened his pace to catch up.

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The routine was simple: drink water, pick small fruits to stave off hunger, and follow wherever Huikyung led.

Despite his lackadaisical attitude, Huikyung was a surprisingly reliable guardian.

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Jaekani expected nothing more. He had only asked to be looked after until he reached adulthood, and he didn’t hold out hope for any genuine affection from Huikyung. If Huikyung were capable of such feelings, he wouldn’t have massacred the entire village—he wouldn’t have destroyed everything, even for Jaekani’s sake.

Jaekani knew that not all the villagers had participated in the heinous crimes Huikyung claimed to avenge. Yet Huikyung had killed them all, razed their homes, and stolen their lives. It was simply the easier, more convenient choice. Even knowing that it would leave Jaekani vulnerable, Huikyung had acted without hesitation.

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To Jaekani, Huikyung was untrustworthy, a man who couldn’t be counted on for compassion. Even their verbal agreements felt flimsy and unreliable.

Huikyung tossed small, unknown berries into his mouth as he walked, but then, suddenly, he stopped in his tracks. Caught off guard, Jaekani bumped his forehead into Huikyung’s back.

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“What is it?”

Huikyung’s sharp movements reminded Jaekani of a hunting dog. The boy lowered his voice instinctively. Huikyung raised a hand to his lips, signaling for silence, and Jaekani’s body tensed. Yet, sensing no immediate danger from Huikyung’s demeanor, he tried not to panic.

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“Just wait here.”

“Huh? Huikyung?”

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Before Jaekani could react, Huikyung disappeared into the bushes with a swift rustle.

“Huikyung! Huikyuuung!”

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If Jaekani had seen it coming, he might have grabbed his hand. But Huikyung had given no warning, leaving only a vague command to wait. He was gone without a trace.

Left in stunned silence, Jaekani called out several more times, but there was no response.

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After pacing around the broken road for a while, Jaekani finally sank to the ground with a defeated sigh. He decided to do as Huikyung had instructed and wait.

The weather was pleasant, with sunlight filtering gently through the trees. But an eerie unease settled over Jaekani like a shadow.

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‘Am I just imagining things?’ he wondered, trying to reassure himself. Yet the once-comforting silence now felt ominous, like the calm before a storm.

Unable to relax, Jaekani stood again, fidgeting restlessly. He wanted to be ready to flee if Huikyung suddenly reappeared with a warning.

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“…Huikyung?”

He called softly, but the silence stretched on.

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Not even five minutes had passed since Huikyung disappeared, but it felt both too short to go after him and too long to keep waiting idly. Torn between options, Jaekani wavered.

Should I follow him?

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The dense foliage made it impossible to tell where Huikyung had gone.

‘What was so urgent that he had to leave like that?’

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The question lingered in Jaekani’s mind until another thought intruded—his own helplessness.

He was useless to Huikyung, offering no help for survival. If anything, he was a burden.

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‘I’m nothing but dead weight.’

“Look what I caught, Jaekani!”

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The rustling of leaves heralded Huikyung’s return, his tall figure emerging from the greenery. In one hand, he held a rabbit like a trophy, presenting it proudly. But Jaekani barely registered the catch.

‘He came back.’

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Relief flooded Jaekani at the realization that Huikyung hadn’t abandoned him. But that relief was quickly overtaken by anger—anger at himself for depending on Huikyung, for having no choice but to rely on him for survival.

“Where were you?!”

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‘Thunk.’

The lighter Jaekani had been carrying hit Huikyung squarely on the head. Startled, Huikyung stood awkwardly with the rabbit still in his hands.

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“I caught meat! For you to eat!” he protested.

“Who said I wanted meat?! Do I look like a scavenger to you?!”

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Thunk, thunk.

The berries Huikyung had handed him earlier followed, bouncing harmlessly off Huikyung’s body.

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‘Give him food, and he throws a fit.’

Huikyung bit back his words as the berries pelted him. Though they didn’t hurt, something about the situation stung more than he expected. Scratching his head awkwardly, Huikyung muttered in frustration.

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“What did I even do to deserve this?”

“You left me!”

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“Are you seriously raising your voice at an adult right now?”

Huikyung’s tone was smug, wielding the “adult card” like a weapon. Jaekani’s lips twisted in irritation, forming a wavering line. He conveniently forgot that he, too, had used age as a defense earlier and made no effort to hide his hurt feelings.

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“Is it mature to treat someone like that and then play the age card?”

“If you’re just gonna throw a tantrum, then go!”

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Childishly, Huikyung doubled down, planting his feet firmly like an ancient tree rooting itself against the wind. His petulance mirrored Jaekani’s perfectly, the two of them locked in a battle of wills.

“I caught this for you to eat! If you’re just going to complain, then forget it! Who’s forcing you to take it?”

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The words slipped easily from Huikyung’s mouth.

He had always been detached, born with extraordinary abilities and awakening as an Esper at a young age. He had never experienced want, never needed to rely on anyone, and thus couldn’t grasp what it meant to be powerless. He was utterly ignorant of the perspective of those who had no choice but to depend on others.

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“…You’re just saying you don’t want to be left behind.”

Jaekani knew his own worth. He also knew how insignificant it was.

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Huikyung’s careless ‘hen just leave’ cut him deeply, even though such wounds were nothing new. Trees don’t know the fears of the fruit they bear. The trembling of a stem in the breeze and the dread the fruit feels at falling are not the tree’s concern.

“Oh, come on. Are you crying now?”

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“I’m not crying.”

Jaekani averted his gaze, stubbornly hiding his reddened eyes. The sight unexpectedly pricked at Huikyung’s conscience, stirring an unbidden guilt. He felt a reluctant flicker of sympathy, a reaction he didn’t know how to handle. His thoughts started turning, albeit slowly.

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‘Okay, maybe disappearing without a word was a bit much. He must’ve been scared.’

But then again…

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‘He survived in that lawless pit of a village. He’d probably be just fine if I left him on his own. What’s with the helpless act?’

‘No, this won’t do. I should scold him properly like an adult—’

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“I’m sorry.”

‘Wait. That’s not what I meant to say.’

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“…I said I’m sorry, okay? Stop crying already.”

“I told you, I’m not crying.”

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Huikyung’s inner child, still far from mature, was practically throwing a tantrum. He felt aggrieved, indignant, and desperately wanted to shout, ‘What did I even do wrong? Why am I apologizing? Why do I have to spoil this kid?’

Yet, despite his protests, an apology had already left his lips.

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‘Fine, fine, I’m sorry. Happy now?’

Jaekani insisted he was fine, but his own heart betrayed him. He couldn’t collect himself. Memories of the calluses etched into his soul during his time in the village came flooding back. He’d thought the thickened skin made him immune to pain. But while he’d accounted for the small relief those calluses might bring, he hadn’t considered the immense pressure and pain it had taken to form them in the first place.

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“Jaekani.”

Rubbing at his temple with a sigh, Huikyung finally spoke.

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“I take it back. That ‘just leave’ thing—I didn’t mean it. I misspoke.”

Even that didn’t feel sufficient, so he held up the rabbit he’d caught, forcing a grin.

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“I’ll cook this up for you. You’ll love it.”

Huikyung reached out and tousled Jaekani’s hair roughly, his tone softer now. Though Jaekani had been hurt, the unexpected warmth of Huikyung’s gesture made his resentment dissolve like a soap bubble. Feigning reluctance, Jaekani nodded.

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Huikyung had come back.

Even if Jaekani was nothing more than dead weight to him, he had returned. And for now, that was enough.

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* * *

“You’re such a mess.”

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Though it was just one rabbit, Jaekani ate his fill since Huikyung refused to touch the meat himself.

As Huikyung watched him, he noticed the soot smudged on Jaekani’s cheek and chuckled. His playful grin made Jaekani scrub at his face with his sleeve, unaware that he was only spreading the soot further. Like a chinchilla rolling in sand, he kept rubbing, but the dirt only got worse.

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“I’ll help.”

Huikyung offered, reaching out. But even his attempts to clean Jaekani’s face were futile—the soot clung stubbornly, refusing to budge.

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